Adam Cheung is a writer and editor who specialises in sneakers and streetwear. Over the past few years, he's curated features and guides for everyone from Burberry to Nike. Often travelling between the UK and Hong Kong, don't be too surprised if you find Adam anywhere else around the world taking street photography or feasting on the local delicacies.
Even though Robert Pattinson’s second The Batman film isn’t scheduled to release for another two years, you can prep for Gotham with the upcoming Nike Air Max 1 Batman. While this isn’t an official collaboration with DC Comics, it borrows enough elements from the Dark Knight to feel like one. Designed for sneakerheads and comic book fans alike, this pair makes its intentions clear from the very first glance.
Revealed just weeks after the Air Max 95 version, this Air Max 1 sits on an Anthracite mesh base with Smoke Grey suede overlays throughout. It nods more to Adam West’s playful, quirky take on the Caped Crusader rather than Ben Affleck’s brooding or Christian Bale’s gritty renditions. Even the Bright Citron accents on the Swoosh and mudguard appear to mimic West’s oversized yellow utility belt – a clever detail that makes the reference unmistakable.
Down below, the chunky midsole arrives fully blacked out, reinforcing the murdered-out aesthetic. Unlike the aforementioned AM95 version, this release sticks with the classic Air bubble for dependable cushioning. Finishing touches include a black-on-yellow insole that directly echoes Batman’s iconic chest emblem.
Batman’s shadow stretches far beyond the silver screen, and sneakers have often been one of the subcultures most eager to embrace it. From custom Jordans painted with Gotham-inspired artwork to Nike SB’s Dark Knight Dunks in the 2000s, the superhero’s color palette and symbolism have become recurring motifs in footwear design.
The Nike Air Max 1 Batman will be released Fall 2025. It will be available at Nike and select retailers online and in-store with a retail price of $140. For your best chance to secure your size, make sure you download Sole Retriever's mobile app to stay updated on the latest releases, raffles, news, and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.
Images via Nike
